Two York business owners are launching a unique initiative for employers which blends leadership coaching with occupational therapy.
Elaine Morris, founder of Curious Edge, and Lizzie Huxford, co-founder of OT4me, have formed a new partnership to offer a unique, practical approach to supporting inclusion and wellbeing in the workplace.
The programme is being fully-funded by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, offering a rare opportunity for SMEs to access such specialist training.
The Thrive At Work – Inclusive Futures Programme is taking place in January, February and March in three locations – Harrogate, Malton and Tadcaster.
It consists of a series of interactive workshops to help managers develop their coaching skills, and strengthen inclusive retention, engagement and HR practices. Sessions also offer skills in broadening understanding of neurodiversity and helping to create workspaces that support different sensory needs.
One-to-one coaching is also available for colleagues who may be at risk of going on sick leave. Funding is limited to businesses in York and North Yorkshire.
As a qualified executive coach, Elaine started Curious Edge – a consultancy integrating consumer and employee research with executive coaching – after a 20-year career in consumer research for global brands.
Elaine explained: “Our Thrive at Work programme supports organisations in meeting these challenges by developing more confident, inclusive leaders and creating workplaces where everyone feels they belong and do their best work.
“It’s about encouraging individuals and giving them the best opportunity to thrive. When you manage a team, people’s circumstances can change for a whole range of reasons – including illness, caring for an elderly relative, partner or child, or menopause – and that can really impact their ability or confidence to do their job.
“When managers know how to notice if a colleague’s behaviour is changing and understand how to have an effective conversation to really understand what’s triggering this, it empowers them. Sometimes it’s simply gaining basic skills like how to start a conversation with their colleague.
“Through our unique partnership with OT4me, the programme blends leadership coaching – which builds self-awareness, empathy, and empowering coaching skills – with occupational therapy expertise in neurodiversity and sensory integration. This unique combination helps to design effective workplace adjustments that make a real difference.”
Lizzie is a Specialist Occupational Therapist and the co-founder of OT4me, which offers specialist occupational therapy expertise rooted in evidence-based practice and a deep understanding of the relationship between health, wellbeing and performance at work.
With a background in the NHS, she has extensive experience across diverse settings, and specialises in sensory processing needs for people who are neurodivergent.
Lizzie said: “Using a Person–Occupation–Environment (PEO) model, we recognise the dynamic interaction between individual needs, job demands and workplace environments, and provide practical strategies to improve inclusion, participation, and performance. With extensive workplace experience, OT4me bridges the clinical and organisational worlds – making therapeutic, practical support accessible in everyday work settings.
“Our workplace sensory audits evaluate the workplace environment to identify sensory triggers and opportunities for adjustment, helping make spaces more comfortable and inclusive for everyone. We look at what’s working well, and what basic changes can be made. It may be as simple as creating a quiet area or room – or even just changing a lightbulb or giving someone access to natural light. And these changes can often help your whole team to function better.”
Employers signing up for the three full-day in-person interactive workshops will gain practical tools and confidence to lead inclusively, improve staff retention and create a positive workplace culture that supports diverse needs.
The workshops will be in Harrogate on 4 February, 24 February and 19 March, and in Malton on 29 January, 23 February and 16 March. The Tadcaster sessions are fully booked but employers can register to join the reserve list. If there is enough demand, extra sessions may also run in March.
For more information, including registering your interest for the programme, please email [email protected].
